When we looked at the Metropolitan Police website it seemed that practically the whole of the area was being closed to traffic. As my friend Jean and I were going to spend my pre-trip night in a The Grand Trafalgar, right in the thick of the action, we decided to leave early before things heated up. Good decision. We had a clear journey in and were dropped off before things heated up.
This is a photograph of the march as it was assembling by Cleopatra's Needle, the place where we will be assembling to start our trip at 7 am tomorrow morning.
We took a walk around and things seemed pretty amiable.
Until this happened. At midday several hundred marchers dressed in black, wearing masks, with many carrying batons and sticks passed by our hotel. They were obviously intent on trouble.
Sure enough we later heard that the Socialist Workers Party had thrown molativ cocktails, tear gas and amonia filled light bulbs at the police. They also attacked banks and shops. So far there's been 13 arrests but the night is yet young! Not an auspicious start to our adverture
14 comments:
Oh, my! Stay safe!
Its fine to demonstrate peacefully but to do the breaking of windows and using hand made explosives is hardly the way to go about things is it?
Hope the rest of the journey goes without incident.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
I am totally for peaceful demonstations but I abhor these violent displays where innocent people get hurt and propety is destroyed. It really speaks poorly for anyone's cause.
Blessing to you, dear Ann, as you start you long adventure.
Just think how nice it will be to leave all this behind you and step forth into your adventure! Happy trails!
What a wonderful send off!
Did any of them look like the picture you post on your blog.....bet she is a doozie! However, If I find out there are demonstrations at any of the places you visit I will figure that you are actually at the bottom of it.
kt
Oh-Oh! Not a good start at all! There is always trouble makers for sure.
Be safe dear one!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Out of My Mind, you may be right! Ann is quite capable of stiring up trouble! But she's too good-natured to allow anything unruly!
The OzBus was about 45 minutes late this morning and so she and Jean and all her new-found friends had to wait in a bitterly cold wind beside Cleopatra's Needle, beside a misty River Thames. Lots of photos were taken and everyone was in the best of good humour, no doubt relieved at being off at last after months of anticipation. I hope they get to Dover on time for the ferry - the driver is Latvian and so is his luxury coach!
I will do my best Eva.
Iknow, it's appauling isn't it Maggie. But the troublemakers were not the true demonstrators. They just spoil it for everyone.
And the worst part Carmen was that there were families with young children at the demo. I thought it was pretty risky bringing them, and I wouldn't have done that, but what is happening if we can't demonstrate peacefully without all that crap.
Yes, it's going to be a great adventure aims
I'm with good people SueAnn. I know that I'll be totally safe.
What can you mean Out of my Mind?! :-)
You nailed it DogLover, the driver is Latvian and he is a lulu!
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